Hanger



March 22, 1966 E. TlLLx-:RY 3,241,733

HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April s, 1965 56 INVENTOR. 4 .64 l. @We E 77///jy @t 4| l l Mmm/51x74? ATTORNEYS.

HANGER Filed April I3, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0MM 5. f77/@y *l 10. BY

United States Patent O 3,241,733 HANGER lLoweil E. Tillery, 7221 Lydia, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Apr. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 270,231 4 Claims. (Cl. 223--87) This is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No. 228,886, yfiled October 8, 1962, and entitled Hangerf This invention relates to a garment hanger, and more particularly, to such a lhanger formed from a single sheet of material such as cardboard or the like, which hanger can be used in the storage and transportation of various types of garments.

It is the most important object of this invention to provide a han-ger which can be formed fromy a single sheet of material such as cardboard, plastic or the like, 'which sheet is initially in the form of a fiat blank, the blank being cut and stamped whereby to create two substantially identical portions thereof, the portions being mating in nature whereby the single sheet of material may be folded along a substantially central line to create the finished garment hanger.

It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a hanger having a main panel comprised of opposed portions of a single sheet of material, the main panel having disposed between said portions the base end of a hook, the free end of the hook extending from the main panel whereby the hanger may be suspended.

A yet further aim of the invention is to provide a hanger having a main panel, the main panel having wings at the uppermost edge thereof, the wings cooperating whereby to define a substantially cylindrical, uppermost edge for the hanger, there being a crossbar disposed beneath the main panel and an opening between the said panel and the crossbar whereby the garments to be suspended from the hanger may be disposed over the crossbar.

A yet additional object of this invention is to provide a hanger formed from a single sheet of material, which sheet is stamped and cut in such a manner as to present a center fiap, the center flap having a pair of opposed extensions joined thereto by fold lines, the center flap and extensions cooperating, when the portions of the sheet material are folded upon themselves to create the finished hanger, to present a crossbar, there being bridge memtbers joining said crossbar to the main panel at the outermost ends of the latter.

Yet another aim of this invention, in one form thereof, is to provi-de a hanger having a substantially triangular main panel, the hook for the hanger having a base end of substantially triangular configuration, said base end being disposed between the opposed portions which form the main panel, the base end of the hook defining a central area whereby the opposed portions may be adhesively joined through said central area to tightly secure the hook in a fixed position with respect to the hanger.

Yet another aim of the present invention in its modified form is to provide a hanger wherein the base end of the hook has an offset portion and an eye, the eye being pivotally secured to the main panel of the hanger as by a rivet, pin or the like, whereby the hook may be swung about said point of pivotal connection to a position with the major portion of the hook disposed in a space provided between the portions which comprise the main panel of the hanger, all to the end that the over-all size of the hanger may be reduced for purposes of storage, transportation and the like.

Other significant objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accom-panying drawings, wherein:

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FIGUR-E 1 is a front elevational View of one form of the hanger, a portion being broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of the hanger shown in FIG. 1 and taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end elevational View of the hanger shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, plan view of one end of the blank prio-r to its form-ation into the finished hanger illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a modified form `of the invention, a portion being broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank used to form the hanger of FIG. 6;

IFIG. 8 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the hanger;

lFIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

The hanger illustrated in FIGS. l-S of the drawings is broadly desi-gnated by the numeral 10 and is formed from a single sheet of material which initially assumes a fiat configuration, the same subsequently being formed into a blank 12, which blank 12 presents a pair of portions 14 and 16, said portions 14 and 16 bein-g substantially identical in construction and foldable along lines disposed substantially centrally thereof, and with respect to one another whereby to move the same into opposed relationship to create the finished hanger 10.

The blank 12 initially takes the form of a fiat sheet of cardboard, plastic or the like which is foldable, the portions 14 and 16 of the blank 12 each presenting a main panel 18 and 2d respectively. Each of said main panel portions 18 and 20 has a biase edge 22 and 24 respectively, and an apex edge 26 and 28 respectively, said base edges and said apex edges being joined by side edges 29 whereby to define an over-all triangular configuration for each of the main panel portions 18 and 20.

Each of said main panel portions has, adjacent the normally uppermost edges thereof, which edges are defined by the side edges 29 of the triangular main panels, a pair of wings, the wings of panel 18 being identified as 30 and 32, the wings of main panel 20 being identified as 34 and 36 respectively, each of said wings being semispherical in conguration. Thus, it is seen that when the main panels are folded toward one another and brought into overlying mating engagement, the Wings 30 and 34, and 32 and 36 each respectively cooperate whereby to deline a substantially cylindrical, uppermost edge for the han-ger 10.

Wings 311-36 are created by folding outwardly extendin-g portions 37, which are secured to each of the side edges 29 of each of the main panels 18 and 20 inwardly upon themselves and adhesively securing the same to the inner face ofthe main panels, all as is best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings.

The base edge of each of the main panels 18 and 20 is defined by a line of cut, these lines being identified as 38 and 44) respectively, said lines of cut 38 and 40 further cooperating to dene a center flap 42 having an initial plan configuration as best seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Center flap 42 includes a central section 44 defined on each side thereof by a line of fold, the line of fold on the side thereof adjacent main panel 18 being identified as 46 and the line of fold adjacent main panel 20 being identified as 48. Lines of fold 46 and 48 extend the full length of the hanger blank 12 and it is along the outermost ends of these innermost lines of fold 46 and 48 that the portions 14 and 16 of the blank 12 are folded to mate u) the portions of the blank 12 which create the main panels 18 and 20 in their finished condition.

A second line of fold is formed in center flap 42 in parallel relationship to line of fold 46, this line of fold being identified as 50 in the case of that portion of center ap 42 adjacent main panel 18 and as 52 in the case of that portion of the center fiap 42 adjacent main panel 20. Lines of fold 50 and 52 are parallel to their corresponding lines of fold 46 and 48 and each define, in cooperation with their corresponding lines of cut 38 and 4t) respectively, extensions 54 and 56 which are adhesively secured together when the hanger is folded into its nished condition.

A hook 58 is carried at the apex of 4the hanger 10, the hook having a free end 60 and a base end 62, the base end 62 being triangular in configuration whereby to define a central area 64. As best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the central area 64 allows the panels 18 and 20 to be adhesively secured together within said central area whereby to insure that the hook 58 is fixedly retained with respect to the hanger and that the free end 60 of the hook 58 always extends in the desired position from the hanger 10 whereby the same may be suitably suspended.

In creating the finished hanger 10 the blank 12 is first prepared by stamping the same from a single sheet of material and, during the stamping operation, providing the cut lines and fold lines therein as hereinabove described. The wings 30-36 are then developed by folding outwardly extending portions 37 of each of the main panels 18 and 20 upon themselves in the manner shown in the drawings and described hereinabove.

When the blank has reached this stage of development it is in condition to be formed into the finished hanger, and to accomplish this the main panels 18 and 20 are folded toward one another along the lines of fold 46 and 48 respectively, whereby said main panels may mate in overlying relationship, it being contemplated that as the panels are moved toward one another the base end 62 of the hook 58 will be inserted between the opposed portions of the rnain panel and adhesive applied to said main panel whereby to retain the hook in its desired fixed position. Likewise, adhesive may be suitably applied to interengaging faces of the areas of the main panel outside of central area 64 and also to the opposed faces of the Wings as the same are moved together.

A crossbar, broadly designated as 66, is formed when the hanger is moved into its finished condition whereby to present an opening 68 between the main panels and the crossbar 66, the crossbar being created by the center flap 42 of the blank 12, which center fiap is folded downwardly along the portions of fold lines 46 and 48 between the ends of the cuts 38 and 40 and again inwardly along fold lines 50 and 52 whereby the extensions 54 and 56 may be adhesively secured together. Thus, the finished hanger is quickly and easily created from the blank 12 and it will be appreciated that the blank 12 may be stored in a fiat condition if such is desired, and occupy a minimal amount of space. To add stiffness and strength to the finished hanger, a stiffening rib 70 is provided along the base edge of each of the main panels 18 and 20, this rib being convex in configuration as best shown in FIGS. l and y4 of the drawings and being formed in the blank 12 prior to its formation into the finished hanger.

In the form of invention shown in FIGS. 6-10, the hanger 100 is formed from a single sheet of material 110 which is initially fiat in conguration whereby the same may be cut and folded to present a blank 120, the blank 120 having opposed portions 122 and 123 which are foldable with respect to one another whereby to present the finished `hanger 110.

In forming the hanger 100 from a single at sheet of material 110, the same is cut in such a manner as to define a pair of main panels 124 and 126, each of said main panels having a wing 128 and 130 respectively, said wings each having a flange 132 and 134, respectively, at the normally outermost free edge thereof.

Said main panels 124 and 126 and the wings and fianges carried thereby, are moved into opposing relationship whereby to define the uppermost portion of the hanger 100, there being a crossbar 136 disposed below the uppermost portion and separated therefrom by an opening 138.

The crossbar 136 is formed from a center flap 140 which has a pair of extensions 142 and 144, said extensions being separated from the center flap by lines of fold 146 and 148, respectively, the extensions 142 and 144 being separated from their corresponding main panels by lines of cut 150 and 152.

The hook 154, which is to be made a part of the hanger 100, has a shank 156, the shank having an offset portion 158 which has the free end thereof wrapped about a pivot member 160, the pivot member 160 being in the form of a rivet, pin or the like which is secured to the inwardly extending portions of the wings 128 and 130 in the manner shown in FIG. l0 of the drawings.

Thus, when the finished hanger is to be formed from the blank 120, the main panels 124 and 126 are initially folded into opposing relationship whereby the faces shown in FIG. 7 may be adhesively joined together, the pivot member 160 then being secured to the opposed faces of the main panels 124 and 126. The wings 128 and are then folded outwardly about lines of fold 162 and 164, respectively, whereby each of said wings assumes a semispherical configuration, the fianges 132 and 134 of wings 128 and 130 respectively, then being folded along lines of fold 166 and 168 whereby said flanges may be brought into overlying relationship with the main panels 124 and 126 respectively, and joined thereto as by adhesive or the like.

The extensions 142 and 144 are then folded toward each other along lines of fold 146 and 148, and more particularly, the outermost lines of fold, viewing FIG. 7, whereby said extensions 142 and 144 may be brought into opposed, fiat, overlying .relationship and adhesively joined together. Once this has been done, the crossbar 136 has been created and it will be seen that the crossbar 136 is joined to the uppermost portirn of the hanger by bridge members 170 which are defined by the normally lowermost ends of the main panels 124 and 126 and by a por- -tion presented between the innermost of the fold lines 146 and 148.

When securing the main panels together, it is desirable that a space, such as 172, be left therbetween whereby the hook 154 may be swung to a position of nonuse about its pivot member and the said hook moved, so far as is possible, into the space 172 between the main panels 124 and 126 whereby to facilitate storage and transportation of the hanger.

The subject hanger 100 has the same end use advantages as does the earlier described hanger 10 although it will `be appreciated that said hanger 100, because of its reduced size and over-all configuration, is particularly adapted for carrying trousers, slacks or the like. In this regard, if it is desired to utilize this smaller hanger 100 for the carrying of ties, it will be appreciated that a portion of the exten-sions `142 and 144 may be cut out whereby to present a slot for the reception of ties, thereby making the hanger 100 usable for trousers and ties.

It is an advantage of both forms of the present invention that the hangers 10 and 100 may be formed from a single sheet of material, which sheet is of minimum size whereby to reduce the amount of material necessary to the forming of the finished hanger. In this regard, it is `contemplated that the blanks such as hereinabove described, could be furnished to a cleaner or other user of the hangers, to be made into finished form by him or, if desired, the finished hanger may be created and shipped to the cleaner who may then store the same in a minimum amount of space for subsequent use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and `desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A hanger comprising a main panel formed by opposed portions of an initially flat, single sheet of material, said sheet having a pair of spaced apart lines of cut extending longitudinally thereof, said lines of cut being entirely within the confines of said sheet of material and each defining a lo-wermost edge of a corresponding main panel; Va cen-ter flap defined by said lines of cut, there being a pair of spaced apart fold lines formed substantially centrally of said center flap defining a crossbar, the ends of each of said lines of cut terminating at spaced points on a corresponding fold line, said points being spaced inwardly on the sheet of material, said main panel being formed by folding each of said opposed main panel portions in one direction with respect to said fold lines, said crossbar being formed by folding said center flap in another direction with respect to said fold lines.

2. A hanger comprising a main panel formed by opposed portions of an init-ially flat, single sheet of material, said sheet having a pair of spaced apart lines of cut extending longitud-inally thereof, said lines of cut being entirely wit-hin the contines of said sheet of material and each defining a lowermost edge of a corresponding main panel; a center ap defined by said lines of cut, there being a -rst pair of spaced apart innermost fold lines formed substantially centrally of said center flap defining a crossbar, the ends of each of said lines of cut terminating at spaced points on its corresponding innermost fold line, said points each being spaced inwardly on the sheet of material and a second pair of spaced apart outermost fold lines formed in said center flap; an extension for the crossbar, said outermost fold lines each cooperating with a corresponding line of cut to define the extension for the crossbar, said main panel being formed by folding each of said opposed main panel portions in one direction with respect to said innermost fold lines, said crossbar being formed by folding said center flap in another direction with respect to said innermost fold lines, said extensions being Isecured together in yface to face relationship by folding the same along said outermost fold lines.

3. A hanger as set forth in claim 1, said fold lines extending the full length of said sheet of material.

4. A hanger as set forth in claim 2, said outermost fold lines each extending the full length of their corresponding extension, the ends thereof intersecting with a corresponding line of cut.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,334 4/1918 Davis et al. 222-87 1,367,062 2/1921 Lichter 223-87 1,470,925 10/ 1923 Klein et al. 223-87 1,510,915 10/1924 Bartholdi 223-87 1,558,075 10/1025 Cave 223-87 1,577,290 3/1926 Nash 223-88 1,619,742 3/1927 Mayhew 223-87 1,740,566 12/1929 Batts 223-98 X 1,786,923 12/1930 Scruby 223-98 X 2,409,170 10/1946 Young 223-87 2,641,393 6/1953 Gwinn 223-98 3,001,675 9/1961 Aynes et al. 223-88 FOREIGN PATENTS 532,270 8/ 1931 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examinez'.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. A HANGER COMPRISING A MAIN PANEL FORMED BY OPPOSED PORTIONS OF AN INITIALLY FLAT, SINGLE SHEET OF MATERIAL, SAID SHEET HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED APART LINES OF CUT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID LINES OF CUT BEING NTIRELY WITH THE CONFINES OF SAID SHEET OF MATERIAL AND EACH DEFINING A LOWERMOST EDGE OF A CORRESPONDING MAIN PANEL; A CENTER FLAP DEFINED BY SAID LINES OF CUT, THERE BEING A PAIR OF SPACED APART FOLD LINES FORMED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF SAID CENTER FLAP DEFINING A CROSSBAR, THE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID LINES OF CUT TERMINATING AT SPACED POINTS ON A CORRESPONDING FOLD LINE, SAID POINTS BEING SPACED INWARDLY ON THE SHEET OF MATERIAL, SAID MAIN PANEL BEING FORMED BY FOLDING EACH OF SAID OPPOSED MAIN PANEL PORTIONS IN ONE DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID FOLD LINES, SAID CROSSBAR BEING FORMED BY FOLDING SAID CENTER FLAP IN ANOTHER DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID FOLD LINES. 